Winterizing run options, opinions needed

[eikome]

Hello all. I built a bigger better coop and run recently and I need some help brainstorming the best way to winterize my run.

Location: upstate NY, typically very cold, very heavy lake effect deep snow winters. Wind swirls at my location and does not come from one dominant direction (my home is in a little hollow)

In my old run (6ft x 12ft) I made little frames covered with plastic sheeting and fit them around the bottom half of my run on the outside (like storm windows). What I liked: easy to install every year, very windproof, durable (lasted 7 years winters and are still perfect condition). What I did not like: bulky/heavy/hard to store in the off-season, time consuming to build, and since I only covered the bottom half of the run snow blew in over the top all winter. I want to prevent that from happening in the new run.

My new run (12ft x 12ft) is built the same way as my old run, just bigger and taller with more roof overhang. I need help deciding on my winterizing options for the new run.

Option 1: Make frames the same way as my old ones and also make uppers to block more snow. Cons: Would definitely have difficulty storing the number/size of frames needed to cover the run. Would be a major/time consuming project making all the frames before winter. Pros: I already know this method worked well and how to do it, fairly inexpensive (depending on the price of lumber), can customize to exact dimensions needed for run.

Option 2: Wrap a tarp/plastic around the run. Cons: Would be tricky to find a tarp the correct size (would need to be something like 4ft x 30ft to leave room for ventilation at top - could piece a few tarps together to get the right size maybe), and also would have deal with the door and smaller side next to the door that couldn't be included in the one continuous tarp. Also definitely not as wind-proof/might flap around in the wind. Pros: fairly inexpensive, easy to install, easy to store.

Option 3: Use transparent plastic corrugated roofing panels (or some other hard plastic like greenhouse panels, etc). Cons: expensive, harder to store than tarps, not exactly sure how I would attach them (bolts through the hardware cloth?), would probably need help installing. Not sure if wind would blow under/through the roofing panels because of the corrugations. Pros: very durable, easier to store than the frames in option 1, can cut/customize the size

Option 4: Use plastic sheeting attached to long pieces of lumber on two sides instead of full frames like in option 1, and attach lumber to the run. Cons: flaps a lot in the winter/not as wind proof (I use this method to winterize my screened porch and it's super loud in a windstorm). Would need help installing each year. Pros: inexpensive, can store rolled up, easy to customize size.

Any other ideas or methods that you love using for your own run? Thoughts about my current options?

I've added photos of my old little coop/run with the framed plastic, and my new big run so you can see what I'm working with.

All suggestions welcome!

 

[thecatumbrella]

I use clear polycarbonate roof panels. You might have to ship them in from one of the big box stores, depending on which sizes you need. They can be installed either vertically or horizontally. I attach with extreme weather cables ties through pre-drilled holes and keep 12" of open ventilation at the top. You do have to store them, but for me it's better than fussing with tarps and plastic.

Cute flock, by the way!

 

[Penpal]

When I had a hoop house for the sheep I used a large tarp over it. Used rope to tie grommets to base. Added those ball with elastic things to the base on one side, tied rope or twine to the ball things and threw the rope over the top. Tied rope to opposite base. The elastic thingies kept the ropes tight. The rope over the tarp kept the tarp from flapping. You could do the same thing with your tarp. No scary noise, no tarps tearing apart.

 

[eikome]

I use clear polycarbonate roof panels. You might have to ship them in from one of the big box stores, depending on which sizes you need. They can be installed either vertically or horizontally. I attach with extreme weather cables ties through pre-drilled holes and keep 12" of open ventilation at the top. You do have to store them, but for me it's better than fussing with tarps and plastic.

Cute flock, by the way!

Thanks

Do you use the wavy kind of panels like I have on my run roof? Do you ever find that wind blows down the channels left by the wave shape in any significant way? The wind is so erratic at my place it's hard for me to guess how drafty the different options will actually feel to my hens.

 

[eikome]

When I had a hoop house for the sheep I used a large tarp over it. Used rope to tie grommets to base. Added those ball with elastic things to the base on one side, tied rope or twine to the ball things and threw the rope over the top. Tied rope to opposite base. The elastic thingies kept the ropes tight. The rope over the tarp kept the tarp from flapping. You could do the same thing with your tarp. No scary noise, no tarps tearing apart.

Oh good idea with those elastic thingies. Do they wear out over time? How long do they keep their elasticity?

I never thought to hold down the tarps with rope either! Great idea! (And I might have to use this tip for the loud flapping plastic on my screen porch too )

 

[thecatumbrella]

Thanks

Do you use the wavy kind of panels like I have on my run roof? Do you ever find that wind blows down the channels left by the wave shape in any significant way? The wind is so erratic at my place it's hard for me to guess how drafty the different options will actually feel to my hens.

Yes, they're waving just like yours and have an overlap feature. I have not found an issue with wind when I'm down at the chickens' level, but I understand your concern. If the weather is truly that unpredictable, then wrapping the run in plastic may be your best bet.

Good luck. I know it's hard to choose an option when you don't know how it will perform.

 

[Sefirothe]

Oh good idea with those elastic thingies. Do they wear out over time? How long do they keep their elasticity?

I have a pack of those elastic things with the ball on them. I remove the ball and use the elastic loop to hold our fence gate open when needed. The elastic lives out in the elements 24x7 and I usually end up replacing with a new elastic every 8 or 9 months, not quite a year.

I just had to buy a new pack because I used the last one I had and it’s starting to stretch and wear out.

The ones I had were no special out door use things, just part of a cheap multi pack of bungee cords I had laying around.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

I’m thinking of wrapping the lower 3’ to 4’ feet of our run in Serious Plastic, to allow in light but minimize breezes in what’s left of our winters. Total length needed would be ~46-50’.

Anyone have any brand name recommendations for something like this tough enough to handle random hardware cloth pokes? Ideally it could be taken down when warm weather hits for re-use the next season. I’m already going to ecological hell for plastic use in my past.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Hello all. I built a bigger better coop and run recently and I need some help brainstorming the best way to winterize my run.

Location: upstate NY, typically very cold, very heavy lake effect deep snow winters. Wind swirls at my location and does not come from one dominant direction (my home is in a little hollow)

In my old run (6ft x 12ft) I made little frames covered with plastic sheeting and fit them around the bottom half of my run on the outside (like storm windows). What I liked: easy to install every year, very windproof, durable (lasted 7 years winters and are still perfect condition). What I did not like: bulky/heavy/hard to store in the off-season, time consuming to build, and since I only covered the bottom half of the run snow blew in over the top all winter. I want to prevent that from happening in the new run.

My new run (12ft x 12ft) is built the same way as my old run, just bigger and taller with more roof overhang. I need help deciding on my winterizing options for the new run.

Option 1: Make frames the same way as my old ones and also make uppers to block more snow. Cons: Would definitely have difficulty storing the number/size of frames needed to cover the run. Would be a major/time consuming project making all the frames before winter. Pros: I already know this method worked well and how to do it, fairly inexpensive (depending on the price of lumber), can customize to exact dimensions needed for run.

Option 2: Wrap a tarp/plastic around the run. Cons: Would be tricky to find a tarp the correct size (would need to be something like 4ft x 30ft to leave room for ventilation at top - could piece a few tarps together to get the right size maybe), and also would have deal with the door and smaller side next to the door that couldn't be included in the one continuous tarp. Also definitely not as wind-proof/might flap around in the wind. Pros: fairly inexpensive, easy to install, easy to store.

Option 3: Use transparent plastic corrugated roofing panels (or some other hard plastic like greenhouse panels, etc). Cons: expensive, harder to store than tarps, not exactly sure how I would attach them (bolts through the hardware cloth?), would probably need help installing. Not sure if wind would blow under/through the roofing panels because of the corrugations. Pros: very durable, easier to store than the frames in option 1, can cut/customize the size

Option 4: Use plastic sheeting attached to long pieces of lumber on two sides instead of full frames like in option 1, and attach lumber to the run. Cons: flaps a lot in the winter/not as wind proof (I use this method to winterize my screened porch and it's super loud in a windstorm). Would need help installing each year. Pros: inexpensive, can store rolled up, easy to customize size.

Any other ideas or methods that you love using for your own run? Thoughts about my current options?

I've added photos of my old little coop/run with the framed plastic, and my new big run so you can see what I'm working with.

All suggestions welcome!

Great post! Thank you for clearing explaining your various challenges. This should be a model for how to ask for advice and opinions for specific situations.

 

[RojoMarz]

I’m thinking of wrapping the lower 3’ to 4’ feet of our run in Serious Plastic, to allow in light but minimize breezes in what’s left of our winters. Total length needed would be ~46-50’.

Anyone have any brand name recommendations for something like this tough enough to handle random hardware cloth pokes? Ideally it could be taken down when warm weather hits for re-use the next season. I’m already going to ecological hell for plastic use in my past.

We used clear sheeting that has skrim in it. We lucked out and found it on clearance at one of the big box stores. Over the sheeting, we put snow fence ( to cut down on flapping/billowing. We do leave our run wrapped year round and just replaced the sheeting this year after 3 years of use.